Special Concerns During Pregnancy

When to Call Your Care Team

Call your pregnancy care team right away if you have any of the following:

• Bleeding from the vagina.
• Sudden gush or leaking of fluid from the vagina.
• Puffiness in the hands and face.
• Severe, constant headaches.
• Blurred vision or seeing spots.
• Dizziness.
• Pain in your belly or severe cramping.
• Persistent nausea or vomiting.
• Painful or burning urination.
• Itchy or irritating vaginal discharge that is yellow, greenish, or thick like cottage cheese.
• Sores or blisters in the vaginal area.
• Fever of 100.4°F or higher.
• You feel strongly that something is wrong.

If it's after regular office hours, call Group Health's Consulting Nurse Service.

Intimate Partner Violence

Some partners might react to a woman's pregnancy with violent behavior. Even if this behavior comes and goes, it's still a danger to you and to your family. Any injury to you could also hurt your unborn baby.

If your partner or anyone else threatens or hurts you, get help right away. You can always talk to a member of your care team at Group Health and ask for help.

Listeria and Toxoplasmosis

Listeria and toxoplasmosis can cause serious problems in an unborn baby. Both are found in undercooked meats (including deli meats and hot dogs), certain cheeses and unpasteurized milk products, and unwashed fruits and vegetables.

Follow these precautions:

• Stay away from all soft cheeses imported from other countries (brie, feta, Camembert, Roquefort, queso blanco, and queso fresco); deli meats; any food beyond its "best if used by" date.
• Wash fresh fruits and vegetables with water.
• Wash your hands with warm, soapy water after touching raw meat.
• Thoroughly cook all meat, poultry, and seafood.
• Heat leftovers and hot dogs until steaming hot.

Cat feces can also carry toxoplasmosis. If you have a cat, ask someone else to clean the litter box every day. If you have to clean the litter box, do so daily and wear rubber gloves and a face mask. After cleaning a litter box or working in a garden (which outdoor cats might use as a litter box), wash your hands thoroughly. Testing for toxoplasmosis isn't recommended because the results can be misleading and unclear.

From the "Birth Day News" series